Consider Christ So As to Become Like Him (2)
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.—1 Pet. 2:21
He would not ‘quench the smoking flax, nor break the bruised reed' (Matt. 12:20), so gentle and sweet a Saviour have we. He loved and responded to those who sought him out, as when the rich young man came and said, 'What good thing must I do to inherit eternal life?' (Mark 10:17). So to the Pharisee, he said, 'You are not far from the kingdom of God' (Mark 12:34). He laboured to pull him further. He was of a winning, gaining disposition. Will we not labour to be of his disposition, not to set people further off, but to be of a gaining, winning nature?
See how obedient he was to his Father: 'Not as I will, but as you will' (Matt. 26:39). Both in active and in passive obedience, in all things he looked to his Father's will, being subordinate to him. We see he prayed whole nights (Luke 6:12; 21:37). Wherever there is subordination, there ought to be obedience. We are subordinate to God as our Father in Christ; we should labour to be obedient even to death, as Christ was. Our happiness lies in subordination. The happiness of the inferior is in subjection to the superior that may do him good.
In and of himself, how holy and heavenly he was. He took occasion of vines, of stones, of water, of sheep, and of all things to be heavenly-minded, to raise his soul upon all occasions. And when he rose from the dead and conversed with his disciples, what did he talk about? He spoke all about matters of the kingdom of heaven. So his whole disposition was heavenly and holy in himself, and he was patient in wrongs done to him. He did not return injury for injury. You see how meek he was. He was in himself full of purity and holiness and heavenliness.
See how obedient he was to his Father: 'Not as I will, but as you will' (Matt. 26:39). Both in active and in passive obedience, in all things he looked to his Father's will, being subordinate to him. We see he prayed whole nights (Luke 6:12; 21:37). Wherever there is subordination, there ought to be obedience. We are subordinate to God as our Father in Christ; we should labour to be obedient even to death, as Christ was. Our happiness lies in subordination. The happiness of the inferior is in subjection to the superior that may do him good.
In and of himself, how holy and heavenly he was. He took occasion of vines, of stones, of water, of sheep, and of all things to be heavenly-minded, to raise his soul upon all occasions. And when he rose from the dead and conversed with his disciples, what did he talk about? He spoke all about matters of the kingdom of heaven. So his whole disposition was heavenly and holy in himself, and he was patient in wrongs done to him. He did not return injury for injury. You see how meek he was. He was in himself full of purity and holiness and heavenliness.
Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
Glorious Freedom, pp. 111-12 [122-23]
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.
Glorious Freedom, pp. 111-12 [122-23]
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.
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January
One Thing (1)One Thing (2)Our Thoughts and Desires Reveal Who We AreThe Christian's Desire for God's House (1)The Christian's Desire for God's House (2)What the Soul Was Made ForGod Makes the Heart TenderMaintaining a Tender Heart (1)Maintaining a Tender Heart (2)Maintaining a Tender Heart (3)Maintaining a Tender Heart (4)Test to See if Your Heart is TenderHow to Recover a Tender HeartBenefits of a Tender HeartKings Must Humble Themselves Before GodHow to Humble Ourselves (1)How to Humble Ourselves (2)How to Humble Ourselves (3)Proneness to PrideHumilityTrue versus False Humility (1)True versus False Humility (2)True versus False Humility (3)Both Outward Devotion and Inward AffectionWeeping for the ChurchWeeping and Rejoicing Mixed (1)Weeping and Rejoicing Mixed (2)God Hears Our Prayers--His PartWhen It Seems God Doesn't HearThe Privilege of PrayerGod Hears Our Prayers--Our Part
February
Death Is a Gathering (1)Death Is a Gathering (2)The Righteous Preserve their NationGod's Righteous JudgmentThe Importance of Knowing God Loves Me (1)The Importance of Knowing God Loves Me (2)Abundance Is Not an Accurate Sign of God's LoveRun to GodChristian UnityChrist In Us (1)Christ In Us (2)Christ In Us (3)Christ In Us (4)Christ In Us (5)Christ the Servant: the MediatorThe Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (1)The Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (2)The Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (3)The Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (4)God Knows Our FrameLittle at First (1)Little at First (2)Sometimes Tender, Sometimes Tough (1)Sometimes Tender, Sometimes Tough (2)Avoiding Unnecessary RulesThe Weaker BrotherExtend Grace to One AnotherThe Covenant of GraceThe Light of God Compared to Fire (1)
March
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